Michael Onwuka, Enugu
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has commended Anambra government for its role in the rescue of abducted herders and cows.
The South-East Zonal Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki made the commendation on Friday in an interview with Ikengaonline in Enugu.
Recall that 11 herders were reportedly abducted by hoodlums a fortnight ago in their settlement in Obene Community, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.
Over 300 cows reportedly got missing in the process.
However, 10 of the abducted herders were recently found and many cows recovered by a search party compromising joint security agencies.
The MACBAN zonal chairman said that the Obene incident was one of the many instances of attack by hoodlums on herders at different locations in the state.
He, however, expressed excitement at the swiftness of the rescue of the abducted herders and the role played by the state government.
He said that they were hopeful that the remaining person and cows would be rescued in good health.
Siddiki said that the association was not unmindful of the prime place of security and safety in Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.
However, he appealed to the state government to further deploy more creative measures in stemming the tension between herders and members of their host communities in parts of the state.
“We pledge our unalloyed support to the governor knowing that without a safe and secure environment our business is bound to suffer deplorable losses.
“We believe that the governor’s zero tolerance for criminality will provide adequate protection for herders provided they remain law abiding while plying their legitimate trade,” he said.
According to Siddiki, the association is confident that the future will get better based on its determination to continue suing for peaceful co-existence and the commitment of the Soludo administration to a peaceful state.
He said that the unwarranted attack on Nigerians doing their legitimate businesses query the sincerity or capacity of authorities to truly protect citizens from criminality.
